The first week of June and we're full of new musical directions, some positive thrillers.
Hello, Friends.
Record of the Week is Sideways to New Italy, the glorious second full album from Melbourne's Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. You know we always rave about these guys, but this new set really feels like a big step in production and they successfully bring some quite maudlin moments into the fold, albeit it through their sun-kissed lens. Some superb jangle here, feels like the sort of sunny long player that we all need right about now.
+ We have some very limited Loser Edition's pressed on Sky Blue vinyl.
+ We have a handful of the bands 2018 KEXP live session on 12" here.
Muzz is the self titled debut album from the new project of Paul Banks (Interpol), Josh Kaufman (producer/multi-instrumentalist and one third of Bonny Light Horseman) and Matt Barrick (drummer of Jonathan Fire*Eater, The Walkmen, and Fleet Foxes’ touring band). They have captured such a vibe on this one, dark and soulful. Even the slower moments are full of a quiet and brooding euphoria. Very highly recommended.
Modern Nature return with the seven track mini album Annual, and it is beautifully measured. Often quite sad, the songs have the same sort of energy as late Talk Talk. The band use their instruments in a way the makes them feel like extensions of human gestures. Here it's discombobulating and a really special headspace to get lost in. Pretty thrilling to see them expanding their creative wings with such grace.
+ Pressed on Mustard vinyl.
Madrid four-piece Hinds return with their third studio album - The Prettiest Curse - this week, expanding their pop-sensibilities with glimmering and high budget pop production. They have retained all of their lo-fi charm but brought in the synths to add further to the swooning. Two tappers with dark underbellies, some of their best songs yet.
We were very thrilled to work with the band and Lucky Number to release the album as Dinked Edition No.40. It was one of our fastest selling editions to date in fact. Not much good telling you this now I guess, but we do still have a small pinch of the very limited indie shop pressing on light blue vinyl.
Another trip to Melbourne this week with the return of The Stroppies. Look Alive is such a joy. Lo-fi pop moments with intimate and no fuss production, it's just like you're in the room with them. If you have even the most passing interest in The Chills of The Clean... This is gonna knock you sideways! Great stuff.
+ Indie version LP is pressed on limited 'green thumb' coloured vinyl.
GENE is the dazzling return of La Priest (aka both Sam Eastgate and Sam Dust). Lots of people can take some of the styles and garnishes of Prince's maximalist pop and deliver something perfectly catchy. Working with producer Erol Alkan, La Priest has delivered an album that genuinely expands that sonic pallet with real flare. Utterly brilliant pop music, this is an instant classic.
+ Our Indies limited edition is pressed on glow-in-the-dark vinyl.
A Wealth of Information is the new mini LP from Sunderland post-punks Roxy Girls. Full of break-neck speeds and choppy changes. Funny, plenty of energy and very firmly ones to watch.
Also released on Moshi Moshi, Doomshakalaka is a new project by Paul Rafferty, former vocalist and bassist for Liverpool indie rock band Hot Club De Paris. Great set of songs, plenty of wistful moments. Been playing this a lot.
Your Hero Is Not Dead is the debut from Will Westerman. Recorded alongside his close friend and producer Nathan Jenkins (aka Bullion) in Portugal
+ Indie LP edition is pressed on limited, white coloured vinyl. The sleeve is mirror laminate too!
Head Above The Water is the third album from Brigid Mae Power. Recorded in analogue studio The Green Door in Glasgow with Alasdair Roberts co-producing alongside Brigid and Peter Broderick. Really beautifully delivered this, great songs and she sounds amazing.
+ Indie shop pressing on white vinyl.
Sonic Boom releases his new album All Things Being Equal this week. It's fantastic. Here is the punchline. We ordered a well good wedge, most of which sold, but we're only getting some of them. So not only have we been sending out sad emails refunding lots of you, we also have no copies for the shop and we have no ETA. We'll have a few CDs.
4AD release a pretty special Sohn - Live with the Metropole Orkest - album this week. Sohn's signature glacial electronics with the 54 person-strong classical orchestra sure does have some chills.
We have a 10th Anniversary Edition of The Phoenix Foundation's Buffalo. A limited edition of just 250 Ocean Blue-coloured LPs.
Few more miles on the clock, we also have a 50th Anniversary Edition of Jimi Hendrix's Band Of Gypsys. Pressed on very handsome looking Dark Red marble effect vinyl. He was pretty good wasn't he?
Lastly this week, Grandeza is the debut solo album by Brazilian musician Sessa, and what a trip it is! Flashes of tropicalia, psychedelia and spiritual jazz, it's a hot and hazy album bubbling over with free flowing vibes. We've been hammering this. The LP includes bilingual lyrics inserts which is cool, it's also pressed on super limited tangerine coloured vinyl. Don't miss out, this is your summer go to.
We'll be uploading all of the Love Record Stores and Record Store Day Drops stock to the site when we can, but we'll be getting loads of good things, don't you worry now.
Sea Change has a really great write up in the latest Uncut Magazine, and I (Rupert) look mad picking five current crushes in the new Q Magazine. Both are excellent and now is a great time to be buying magazines, don't lets rue the day we miss them.
- Drift
